MLS: Chivas USA beats Toronto FC to end 14-game winless streak

If Chivas USA wasn't going to be able end its long winless streak Wednesday, then - well, gulp.

When Eric Avila was sent off with a red card in the 25 th minute, history of the bad kind was right at the Goats' feet.

They opted for the alternative and somehow emerged with a 1-0 victory over Toronto FC at StubHub Center to stop their 14-game winless streak and win for the first time since March 30.

Chivas (4-11-5) had 10 lossses and four ties in its streak, which was tied for the third-longest in MLS history, If they had lost to , they would have equaled the second-longest.

Toronto (2-10-7) "Today is a special day," said Coach Jose Luis Real after picking up his first victory in his seventh try. "When we are losing many games, the motivation for the team is not easy."

In his debut with the club, 20-year-old forward Erick Torres got the milestone goal in the 79th minute with a nifty individual move. Torres had just arrived on loan from the mother ship in Guadalajara.

Then the Chivas defense, anchored by another new arrival, Carlos Bocanegra, was able to hold off Toronto, which has its own issues.

"First of all, it was nice to be back in Los Angeles. I'm familiar with this place," said Bocanegra, the former Alta Loma High and UCLA standout.

"It was cool to be playing in my hometown, obviously with the win it made it pretty nice as well.

"The guys have been working real hard and the new coach has come in and been teaching and teaching and teaching. We've been doing a lot of tactical stuff. . . .

"They've been playing better and better organized and I think it showed. We built on that. They showed a lot of character out there."

When Avila was ordered off the field after a studs-high challenge to Darel Russell, Chivas' task looked impossible after the club took the field with a sense of optimism.

Bocanegra, the longtime U.S. national team captain, was making his debut with the club and Torres was tabbed by Real as the spearhead in the 4-5-1 formation.

It took Torres the better part of the game to get comfortable, but he nearly scored a tiebreaking goal that could have stood as the milestone.

In the 60th minute, midfielder Tristan Bowen had possession on the right sideline and sent a crossing pass that eluded three Toronto defenders and suddenly, Torres had the ball on his feet with half the net to shoot at.

But a moment's hesitation cost him and goalkeeper Joe Bendik was able scoot over and deny Torres from about 10 yards away.

"Obviously there are always mistakes in soccer, and I was able to recover from them and I was able to score at the end," Torres said.

The missed opportunity went from a cheer of anticipation to another groan from the sparse gathering. At several points during the match, it was easy to understand the shouted instructions from players all over the field.

To cope with the loss of Avila, Real decided on an attacking approach instead of a defensive posture. At halftime, he sent in Jorge Villafana for defender Carlos Borja, showing faith in Bocanegra to muster the back line of three defenders.